Staff

Walter Zooi, Executive Director

wzooi@ymf.org

Walter Zooi is an award-winning arts entrepreneur and organizational leader with over 20 years of experience in program development, strategic and fiscal planning, marketing and communications. He is the founder and prior executive director of South Pasadena Music Center & Conservatory, which he led through 12 years of dynamic growth. Walter is the founder and past artistic director of the South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival, a city-wide, multi-stage event that showcases musical artists from across a wide variety of cultures and genres. As director of communications at the California Institute of the Arts he oversaw the branding and development communications program for both the Institute and the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Walter held a similar position with USC’s Thornton School of Music, where he was part of the development that helped secure Flora L. Thornton’s $25 million naming gift to the school. Walter is a native of Philadelphia, where he attended Temple University. He is currently completing an M.S. in Philanthropic Leadership through the University of Denver.

Kelsey Smith, Program Director

kelsey@ymf.org

Kelsey Smith is a Los Angeles native, soprano vocalist and music educator who began her collegiate career at Berklee College of Music as a vocal jazz and R&B performance major before returning to California to pursue her interests and degree in the fields of Music Education and Developmental Psychology. She holds a B.A. in music education and a minor in applied developmental psychology from UCLA, and is a Kodaly certified music educator who has worked with musicians from diverse backgrounds and of all ages in choir, guitar, piano, songwriting, music technology, and general music. A lifelong learner, she is constantly researching and developing curriculum, and engaging in professional development opportunities. She is passionate about helping create access and opportunity for students to engage in and experience music. As a part of the Young Musicians Foundation team, she is looking forward to contributing to the incredible program offerings, helping grow the team of Teaching Artists, and expand TAP's reach and impact.

Rachel Beetz, Development Associate

rachel@ymf.org

Rachel Beetz is a Los Angeles-based flutist, sound artist, arts administrator and educator. As executive director of the wasteLAnd concert series and frequent performer of new works, she is passionate about contemporary music. Rachel has been invited to play with ensembles who share this mission such as the Callithumpian Consort, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Noise, Palimpsest, red fish blue fish, Southland Ensemble and Third Coast Percussion, and has been featured in festivals across the globe. You can hear her performances on Blue Griffin, IIKKI, Neuma and Populist record labels. As a composer, she makes sound pieces involving acute realizations of graphic materials. Her sound work has been exhibited in the U.S,. Iceland, Australia and India. Rachel is adjunct instructor at Moorpark College and also at the Summer Institute for Performance Practice at New England Conservatory. She holds degrees from the University of California San Diego (DMA and MA) and Indiana University (BM).

Karlie Carbone, Program Coordinator

karlie@ymf.org

As a passionate advocate for social justice within music education, Karlie Carbone approaches service from a point of understanding and being in solidarity with the communities she serves. She developed this approach while volunteering for Ignatians Service Organization and completing a Child Development Associate Teacher Permit. Karlie graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where she received a BA in Music with an emphasis on Vocal Performance. While at LMU, Karlie was cantor at the LMU Music Ministry, music director of The One Night Stanzas, LMU’s resident acapella group, in addition to being a stage technician at the Murphy Recital Hall. As a vocalist she has performed with the San Diego Master Chorale and participated in the Frost School of Music Summer Program in Salzburg. Recently, Karlie was Lead Teacher at St. Mark Preschool in Encinitas. Karlie is looking forward to serving the students and teachers of the Young Musicians Foundation.